Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expects "normality" to return to the Premier League this season after his side's recent record-breaking battles with Liverpool.

For the past two seasons, City and Liverpool have created enormous gaps to the remainder of the league.

He feels the packed schedule of a campaign that started four weeks late and has condensed the entire European group stages into six successive midweeks, broken only by the November international window, will play a huge role.

"It looks like it," he said, when asked if it could be a 'crazy' season. "There are results no-one expected.

"The history speaks for itself. This is the most open league in the world and many teams can win it. What has happened in the last three seasons, with teams dominating and reaching almost 100 points, is an exceptional situation. Maybe normality will be back for this season.

"The teams who have seven or eight days to prepare for games have a huge advantage. That is why everyone can lose anywhere."